RBK22 fails to setup with AP.

I would remove the NH router temporarily and connect the Orbi router directly to the modem and test to see if this configuration works. Seems like your making things a bit too complex for your self. 

The AP mode concept is for use of the Orbi if you already have a NAT router in front of the orbi or you want to use a different router as your main host router and then use the Orbi's wifi MESH system. This also helps in ease of setup of some complex systems. AP mode and configurations has been around for a long time. 

---

Sh-SJ2011 wrote:

Hi Crimpon and FURRYe38 thank you very much for the detailed response!

 

My setup Steps:

1. Modem + NH On, status Good, not changed in anyway.
2. Connect RBR20 to NH
3. Connect Android to RBR20 WiFi signal. (If someone needs to know, I have Sams. Note8 with android8.0)
4. Attempt #1. Setup RBK22 following steps on App. Where everything seems to work fine up to the point where it reported no internet detected.
5. Attempt #2. I reset RBR20, then connect RBR20 via ethernet cable to PC and change it to AP mode.
6. Go back to Andoid phone and start system setup.  

     x- app fails and reports I'm not connected to the WiFi network of RBR20.

     x- RBR20 appears to continue to transmit its WiFi signal, I still see it, but when I attempt to connect, it continually fails to connect, it’s not just failing to detect internet, it fails to connect (period), and it would continue to attempt to connect but never does.  I hit forget network on several occasions to start fresh, but nothing is different. 

     x- LED ring color is Magenta (solid), not-blinking

     x- All wired ethernet access to RBR20 from PC fail, not accessible until RBR20 is rest again.

** Basic setup items already checked. Wires work, even RBK22 system works fine if directly connected to modem.

 

- Question about IP address:  In 1^st attempt after step #4 IP was reported as not assigned all zeros (0.0.0.0)

 

- Question connection to set Orbi in AP mode: Ethernet (white) jack on Orbi to windows PC

 

- For the suggestion to set NH as AP and turn off its WiFi (and use as router only);

I will attempt tonight to set the NH as AP, but I don’t want to turn off its WiFi.  I would like to keep 2 separate networks (different SSIDs of course between NH and RBK22). otherwise, I have no practical use case that would make me want to keep NH as router only.  I think I can get enough coverage with Orbi + 1 Satellite, though optimally would use 2nd Orbi Satellite unit, but Netgear price structure makes this option unreasonable. i.e., too expensive to buy a 2nd sat. unit.  But if someone could tell me for sure that AP mode will force WiFi off on NH router, then this solution I’m attempting is not what I’m after.

 

- Comments about distance: your comments are understood. my point was that NH is next to modem, the Orbi is 25 ft away will still overlap in coverage but will keep on different channels so not a direct source of interference.  But 25ft is not absolute, I could place the RBR20 even further away from NH, easily up to 40 ft away.  The reason I used 25ft Cat5e cable is that I didn’t know if signal degrades with unshielded cables. 

- Comments or questions about WiFi environment:  I do detect 2 strong WiFi networks from my neighbors, in addition 5-8 more that are weak.  Example (Just for perspective): The 5GHz network from my NH is not detectable at my furthest point at home, the 2.4Ghz is intermittent, while neighbors stronger networks are detected with 2-3 bars in my family room which is where my NH is located.  My house is 3x longer than its width, unfortunately modem is one end, and rooms on other end down or upstairs lose connection sporadically. My house is typical SF bay area construction 2700sqft but narrow..with wood-frame/Drywall/carpet floors between 2nd/1st floors.  So positioning the Orbi center and satellite at the other end is what I have in mind.  Keeping NH WiFi would get me strong signal where I need it on average. 

 

- To be honest, the concept of Access Point (AP) is new to me.  the setting is under WiFi (advanced setup) but would have expected it to be under (advanced) general router setup because my assumption is that the router ability to pass / assign IP addresses to downstream routers wouldn’t stop it from allocating IP address to its own WiFi network. Again, if I have this AP concept misunderstood, and AP means WiFi is off then please save me the trouble and let me know it’s not possible to setup AP and WiFi on same router.  

---